29 April 2010 Preview: Cotley - Stafford Cross
by Brian & Gill Armstrong
This season's Cotley Point-to-Point takes place at Stafford Cross, near Seaton - rather than at the customary Cotley Farm venue - on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd May.
Racing begins at 1.30pm with six Point-to-Point races, followed by two Wessex Area pony races, qualifiers for the Wessex Final at Larkhill at the end of May.
John and Floss Symes' Whizzaar, the winner of a Hereford Hunter Chase before falling in the Aintree Fox Hunter, is fancied to resume winning ways in the opening Hunt race if taking up the engagement. In his absence, last year's winner Emile Zola will get the vote to give owners Len and Rose Vickery - who also owned 2008 winner Kiama - a third consecutive win in the race.
There are 18 entries for the Mixed Open, including Whizzaar and the Symes' Sheriff Roscoe, an easy all-the-way course winner at the Axe Vale fixture on Sunday. Others to note include Paddy The Piper, who put up a good fight against seven-time winner Fully Loaded on Sunday, the consistent Who Else Knew, and Miss Midnight, the winner of her last two races. Carrie On has won five of her last six races, but the Chloe Roddick-trained Sericina, a Christie's Foxhunter faller before finishing third in a Taunton Hunter Chase, is the selection.
Sheriff Roscoe is among the 16 entries for the Countryside Alliance Club Members race. Kings Bitter won at Ston Easton, but Karinga Coin was upsides eventual winner Beau Supreme when departing at the last here on Sunday and can make amends.
Charlton Horethorne winner Bold Chief and John Daniell, who impressed at Badbury Rings, are two candidates for the Restricted, which has attracted 17 entries. Rapid Pete was one of Josh Guerriero's three winners at the West Somerset Vale at Cothelstone in April and can follow up.
Chloe Roddick can complete a double with the Woodhouses' Aironageestring in the 2m4f Maiden. Isitanywonder, who was bang in contention when slithering on the flat and losing all chance after jumping the last here on Sunday, Entering The Light and Dante Wager are three suggestions for the 3m Maiden contest.
The Stafford Cross course lies 2 miles W of Seaton, adjacent to the A3052 (EX24 6HZ). First race: 1.30pm. Admission: £20 per car; £10 single occupancy; £5 pedestrians.
